Flexible hanger clamp for electrical lamp socket

ABSTRACT

A hanger clamp for mounting a selected elongated lamp fixture from a rafter having a predetermined thickness and including a flexible strip bent into somewhat of a U-shape to form a base at the bottom of the U which is wider than the thickness of the rafter to receive such hanger. The hanger further includes coextensive legs angling inwardly toward one another from the opposite ends of such base to terminate in feet which are spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of such rafter when the hanger is in its unflexed condition. The base is formed with a through opening for receipt of such lamp fixture and one of the legs is formed with a longitudinal open ended slot opening at the foot thereof for receipt therein of such electrical lead whereby the fixture may be received between such legs with the bulb positioned therein projecting through such opening and the lead fed in through the open end of such slot and the legs then flexed apart for receipt over such rafter to cause the feet to grip such rafter when the legs are released.

United States Patent Reynolds .e.

1 1 FLEXIBLE HANGER CLAMP FOR ELECTRICAL LAMP SOCKET 221 Filed: Nov. 23,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 418,665

[52] US. Cl. 24/73 CP; 240/10 T [51] Int. Cl. A44b 21/00; A47g 33/16[58] Field of Search 24/73 CP, 81 BA, 81 CL, 24/255 AS, 257 R, 262 R, 73AS, 255 P; 240/10 R, 10 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS990,856 5/1911 Freiberg..................... 24/73 CP UX 1,044,77211/1912 Gilbough 24/81 CL UX 1,625,248 4/1927 Eckstein 240/10 T X1,735,180 11/1929 Raymond 240110 T UX 1,987,987 l/1935 Bohmbach 24/262 RUX 2,299,733 10/1942 Benander 240/10 T UX 2,529,285 11/1950 Felton 24/81BA UX 2,559,706 7/1951 Brooks 240/10 T X 2,657,367 10/1953 Brooks 240/10T X 3,438,604 4/1969 Spicer 24/73 CP UX 3,599,918 8/1971 Patchett2.40/10 T X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 1,527,581 4/1968 France.24/255 P [451 May 20, 1975 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht [57] ABSTRACT Ahanger clamp for mounting a selected elongated lamp fixture from arafter having a predetermined thickness and including a flexible stripbent into somewhat of a U-shape to form a base at the bottom of the Uwhich is wider than the thickness of the rafter to receive such hanger.The hanger further includes coextensive legs angling inwardly toward oneanother from the opposite ends of such base to terminate in feet whichare spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of such rafter whenthe hanger is in its unflexed condition. The base is formed with athrough opening for receipt of such lamp fixture and one of the legs isformed with a longitudinal open ended slot opening at the foot thereoffor receipt therein of such electrical lead whereby the fixture may bereceived between such legs with the bulb positioned therein projectingthrough such opening and the lead fed in through the open end of suchslot and the legs then flexed apart for receipt over such rafter tocause the feet to grip such rafter when the legs are released.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FLEXIBLE HANGER CLAMP FOR ELECTRICAL LAMPSOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally toelectric lamp socket hangers and to a de\ ice for clamping strings ofdecorative lights and like objects to eaves. facial boards. roof raftersand beams. studs and other upright members and the like of buildings andother structures. A quick and convenient method for installation of suchstrands of lights is provided by using a plurality of clamps.Installation is accomplished by inserting the lamp socket through thethroughhole in the clamp. expanding the opening between the ends of theclamping members placing the clamp onto the mounting member andreleasing the ends of the clamping members. The resiliency of thematerial thereafter holds the clamp sccurely in place on the mountingmember. The clamp can be easily mov ed laterally along the mountingmember to position the light socket at any desired location thereon. Theclamp may be constructed of any flexible. resilient material. preferablyof the type that is electrically non-conductive. such as flexible.resilient plastics. or flexible resilient metals coated for electricalinsulation.

The use of the clamp permits semi-permanent installation of strands oflights without use of nails. hooks. staples or screws. which comprisethe prior art. and eliminates defacing of the mounting member withoutdamaging the electrical wiring thus eliminating the potential hazard ofcausing electrical shorts in the wiring due to undue stress beingapplied on the lamp socket wiring.

While particularly suited to strands of decorative lights. the in\entionhas many other uses which involve hanging objects to which the clamp maybe adpated for mounting said objects on mounting members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a llexible hangerclamp for electrical lamp sockets and other similarly constructedobjects. The invention comprises a clamp formed from a thin rectangularsheet of flexible. resilient material said clamp having a central memberhaving attached thereto on opposite sides thereof and integral therewithtwo clamping members said clamping members each forming an adjacentangle equal to or less than 90 between the inside surface of saidcentral member and the inside surfaces of said clamping members adjacentthereto said clamping members having terminating ends being free to movewith respect to each other and principally in a direction parallel tosaid central member permitting said clamp to be opened and to be placedonto a mounting member to which said clamp is to be clamped. saidcentral member having an opening therethrough located centrally on thesurface thereof between said clamping members to permit insertion of alamp socket therethrough. The hanger clamp herein can be constructed ofany flexible. resilient material which may be adaptable to being formedinto said clamp. comprising materials such as thin sheets of resilientmetals coated or non-coated with electrical insulation and sheets offlexible resilient plastics. epoxies. and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flexible hanger clamp formounting electrical lamp sockets on buildings such as residentialdwellings and commercial (all buildings. said clamp being particularlywell suited when used in sets to mount decorative strands of lights oneaves. facial boards and other suitable mounting members.

The foregoing. and other objects and advantages. will be more apparentwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. I is a top plan view showing flexiblehanger clamps clamped onto eaves A. a facial board B. and roof rafters Cof a dwelling with lamp sockets and bulbs mounted in the clamps inclamped positionv FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment ofthe clamp having slotted clamping members to permit positioning theelectric wiring either in said slots or at right angles thereto andhaving foam rubber blocks mounted on inside surfaces of said clampingmembers. said clamping members having flanges at the terminal endsthereof to permit easy manipulation of the clamp.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clamp shown in FIG. I A.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the central member of a clamp in clampedposition as shown in FIG. I and having a lamp socket inserted in thethroughhole on said central member and having a bulb mounted in the lampsocket.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention havingsaw tooth gripping means on the clamping members inside surfacesproviding for increased resistance to slippage of the clamp when clampedonto a mounting member and having line or wiring positioning channels onthe inside surface of the central member located centrally thereon neareach edge of said central member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention havingspikes imbedded near the terminal ends of the clamping members saidspikes protruding inwardly and out ofthc inside surfaces ofsaid clampingmembers. said clamping members not having flanges at the ends of saidterminal ends anti having been constructed of relatively thickerflexible. resilient sheet material than those shown in other figures.and having finger and thumb grips on each of the edges of the clampingmembers near the ends thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings the flexible hangerclamp for electrical lamp socket shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 are thesame. The clamp shown in FIG. 5 is modified from that shown in FIGS. 1through 4 having saw tooth gripping means near the terminal end of theclamping members and having a channel on the inside surface of thecentral member located centrally thereon near the edge thereof.

Those parts which are of similar construction will have the samenumerical reference designator in each of the figures. except that thedesignator will be modified by lower case letter primes appropriate tothe depicted embodiment. The mounting members used for an example arethe edge of the eves A, a facial rafter B and a roof rafter C.

The invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternativeconstructions. illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings andare hereinbelow described. There is no intention to construe theinvention to include only the specific forms shown. but it is theintention that the invention cover modifications and alternativeconstruction and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope asexpressed in the claims set forth in the section entitled Claims.

ln FIGS. 1. 3. and 4 letter A designates a mounting member in the formof a roof cave of shingle type embodied in a residential houseconstruction and is shown as an example to depict an edge of an eve. Awith a hanger clamp l in clamped position thereon. having a lamp socketfixture 2 inserted into a through hole 4 in a central base member 5 ofthe hanger clamp. said lamp socket having a lamp 6 inserted therein andelectric wiring 7 extending from both sides of said lamp socket in adirection parallel to said roof cave. A plurality of the flexible hangerclamps may be used to mount strands of light sockets onto mountingmembers in the manner herein depicted for mounting one socket.

The flexible hanger clamp 1 shown in FIG. 2 may be formed from a thinrectangular sheet of flexible resilient material of the group consistingof plastics. epoxies. resilient metals and the like. said flexiblehanger clamp including the central member 5 which is longer than thewidth of the edge ofthe eve A and has projecting from the opposite ends8 thereof and integral therewith a clamping leg member 9 attached toeach of said opposite sides. said clamping members each forming anadjacent angle 10 between the said central portion and each of saidclamping members, said adjacent angle being equal to or less than 90.The clamping members having clamp terminating foot ends 11 being free tomove with relation to each other and principally in a direction parallelto the central surface of the member to permit opening and closing ofthe clamp and an outwardly flanged portion 12 extending therefrom tofacilitate opening and minipulation of the clamping members. Each of theclamping members have attached thereto on the inside surface 13 thereofa soft nonahraisive material [4 such as rubber. foam rubber and the likesaid soft non-abraisive material covering substantially all of saidinside surface of said clamping members the thickness thereof being asdesired. The central member has a throughhole 4 located substantiallycentrally on the surface thereof between the edges 15 of said centralmember to permit insertion of a lamp socket therethrough. saidthroughhole having a plurality of relief slots 16 on the peripherythereof located substantially 90 apart to allow for protruding partslocated on some lamp sockets and to relieve stresses on socket wiring.

The clamping members each have an elongated slot 17 extending downwardlyfrom the flanged edge 18 to a location near the inside surface l9 of thecentral portion to permit insertion of the lamp socket wiring therein asdesired said slot being located substantially centrally with respect tothe sides of said clamping members.

In operation. the individual socket fixtures 2 may be inserted in theindividual hanger clamps by insertion thereof from the back side of thecentral base member 5 and through the respective holes 4 for receipt ofthe electrical bulb 6 within the sockets of such fixture. lt will beappreciated that Christmas light fixtures conventionally includeelectrical leads 7 passing from the opposite sides thereof. Referring toFlG. 3, these leads 7 are slid into the open end of one or the other ofthe slots l7 formed in the clamping legs 9 to thus assist in concealingthe leads from unsightly viewing as they extend between the variousfixtures in the decorative scheme. The legs 9 are then flexed apart andmounted over the selected edge of the eve A itself. over the facialrafter B or over the roof rafter C. and upon release of such legs. thefeet ends thereof will be flexed firmly inwardly to positively grip themounting or eve member. thus holding the respective lamps 6 firmly inposi tion.

FIG. 5 represents a clamp embodiment wherein the soft non-abraisivematerial 14 is omitted. said clamp having saw tooth gripping means 20near the terminating ends 11 of said clamp. and wiring positioningchannels 21 located near the edge 22 of the inside surface of thecentral member of said clamp. said clamp being in other constructioncharacteristics substantially identical to the clamp shown in FIGS. 1.2. 3. and 4.

In FIG. 6 is shown a clamp embodiment having been formed from arelatively thicker flexible resilient sheet of material and havingspikes 23 embedded near the terminating ends of the clamping members 9said spikes protruding inwardly and out of the inside surface 24 of theclamping members to provide gripping means for said clamping members.said clamping members having slots 17 omitted therefrom. havingoutwardly flanged portions 18 omitted therefrom and having manipulatinggripping means 25 in the edges 26 of said clamping members near theterminating ends thereof the central member having throughhole 4b asdescribed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flexible hanger for mounting an elongated lamp fixture. of the typeincluding a flat end having electrical leads projecting from theopposite sides thereof. on a mounting member having a flat side andcomprising:

a base having a length greater than the width of said mounting memberand including a through opening for confronting said flat side forprojection therethrough of said elongated fixture; and

a pair of flexible legs projecting coextensively in one direction fromthe opposite ends of such base and angling inwardly to terminate ingripping feet spaced apart, in their unflexed condition. a distance lessthan the width of said mounting member, one of said legs being formedwith an elongated open ended slot for receipt of said lead whereby saidfixture may be inserted from the back side of said base. one of saidleads then fitted in through the open end of said slot and said feetflexed apart for receipt over said mounting member and said hanger slidonto said mounting member to abut said flat end against said flat sideand to trap said leads behind said base to hold said fixture captive onsaid member.

2. A flexible hanger clamp as set forth in claim 1 for use with a lightfixture having a projection on one side thereof and wherein:

said opening is formed with a plurality of peripheral relief slots forselective receipt of said projection.

3. A flexible hanger clamp as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

gripping means mounted on the inside of said respective feet.

1. A flexible hanger for mounting an elongated lamp fixture, of the typeincluding a flat end having electrical leads projecting from theopposite sides thereof, on a mounting member having a flat side andcomprising: a base having a length greater than the width of saidmounting member and including a through opening for confronting saidflat side for projection therethrough of said elongated fixture; and apair of flexible legs projecting coextensively in one direction from theopposite ends of such base and angling inwardly to terminate in grippingfeet spaced apart, in their unflexed condition, a distance less than thewidth of said mounting member, one of said legs being formed with anelongated open ended slot for receipt of said lead whereby said fixturemay be inserted from the back side of said base, one of said leads thenfitted in through the open end of said slot and said feet flexed apartfor receipt over said mounting member and said hanger slid onto saidmounting member to abut said flat end against said flat side and to trapsaid leads behind said base to hold said fixture captive on said member.2. A flexible hanger clamp as set forth in claim 1 for use with a lightfixture having a projection on one side thereof and wherein: saidopening is formed with a plurality of peripheral relief slots forselective receipt of said projection.
 3. A flexible hanger clamp as setforth in claim 1 that includes: gripping means mounted on the inside ofsaid respective feet.